Small town Americana hits Gridley's Red Suspenders Day

Wednesday

May 22, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Saturday's 51st Annual Red Suspenders Day Celebration had everything in the way of Small Town Americana except maybe hot apple pie. The day was a huge success thanks to Christine Cunningham and the Gridley Chamber of Commerce. Of course the fun began on Friday with the Unjustice Court in Daddow Park with "Judge Dean Price," at the gavel as he left his stand to sit and visit with his charges in the jail as they ate donuts in the morning and Round Table Pizza in the afternoon. It looked like some were having an exceptionally good time driving by hours later and seeing the same people there, this time taking photos from the outside of the jail.

Lisa Van De Hey

Saturday's 51st Annual Red Suspenders Day Celebration had everything in the way of Small Town Americana except maybe hot apple pie. The day was a huge success thanks to Christine Cunningham and the Gridley Chamber of Commerce. Of course the fun began on Friday with the Unjustice Court in Daddow Park with "Judge Dean Price," at the gavel as he left his stand to sit and visit with his charges in the jail as they ate donuts in the morning and Round Table Pizza in the afternoon. It looked like some were having an exceptionally good time driving by hours later and seeing the same people there, this time taking photos from the outside of the jail.
That night the firemen once again beat the local police in the annual "Guns & Hoses" baseball game at Vierra Park. Word has it the Little League coaches won the second game. All proceeds from this popular event went to the Gridley High Baseball Field project.
Saturday morning started bright and early with vendors setting up all kinds of booths and activities as people filled up on great pancakes in Daddow Park to support Gridley Little League.
The little ones involved in the tire races were just adorable especially when the tires were almost bigger than them and they weren't too enthused in rolling the tire down the street.
The bed races were fast and furious with Joe Lamson running the show in between the tire races and announcer Brad Evans drumming up the excitement with his hilarious comments on the lagging firemen. Maybe the firemen were a little tired after the big Guns & Hoses game the night before!
Miss Teen Butte County Brianna Brockman did a beautiful job singing the National Anthem and this took a lot of courage in front of such a huge crowd.
The parade got off to a great start with big, shiny red fire engines, many beautiful classic cars, wonderful floats such as the Gridley Gators and of course the Sycamore and Gridley High School Bands.
The Gridley Lions Club is to be commended for all their hard work in the parade going so smoothly along with the RSVP's and Gridley-Biggs Police Officers. The Butte County Sheriff's Department was out in force with all kinds of entries including a K-9 dog who walked the parade route with his master.
This was a great parade with children of every size involved and what a great time everyone had.
Daddow and Rotary Parks filled up when the parade was over while Brad Evans and The Mutual Admiration Society performed in the gazebo. Their music was great entertainment while everyone decided what to eat for lunch.
The firemen entertained a crowd of people at Rotary Park with the firemen's games while at Daddow Park the children had a ball in the Pinewood Derby Contest. Best Design award for 0-5 year olds went to first place Calvin Parsley, second place Rex McWilliams and third Jonathan Conn. Best Design 6-14 year-olds - first Kegan Mower, second Jayden Punzo and third Ashlyn Mendenhall.
Fastest cars went to: Ages 0-5 -first, Chevy Rosales; second, Emma Waller and third Jack Waller. Ages 6-14 first Jeffery Rosales, second Dylan Terry and third Vance Lewellen.